Collapsible dome



Oct. 7, 1969 A. A. DE KONING ET AL 3,470,659

COLLAPSIBLE DOME Filed Nov. 3,1967 4 sheets-Sheet 1 Fay.. E

|C 4 2' f "nil U l AT TUF/VE YJ Oct 7, 1969 A. A. DE KONING ETAL 3,470,659

GOLLAPSIBLE DOME 4 Sheets-Shee t. L,

Filed Nov ATTO? EVS Oct. 7, 1969 A. A. DE KONING ET Al. 3,470,659

. COLLAPSIBLE DOME 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Nov.

Oct. 7, 1969 Filed Nv. 5, 1967 A. A. DE KONING ET AL COLLAPSIBLE DOME 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent O M U.S. Cl. 52-63 8 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A collapsible dome for sheltering objects, especially objects whose base area is small relative to their height, said dome comprising a framework of a plurality of twolegged ribs covered with cloth or the like, the ends of said ribs being on both sides pivoted in or adjacent the same point, said pivot points being jointly vertically displaceable. The pivot points are preferably located on members in the shape of a sector of a circle which are pivoted to a lever system for raising and lowering said members. Each lever system is provided with means for locking the system in its raised position.

This invention relates to a collapsible dome, comprising a framework covered with cloth or the like, said framework including a plurality of two-legged ribs, the ends of said legs being on both sides pivoted in or adjacent the same point.

On a small scale, such a construction is known for the hood of perambulators.

Constructed on a large scale, such a dome can be required, in its folded, or partly folded (collapsed) position, to be accessible to an object to be housed therein, while it should be possible for it to be unfolded or erected and collapsed without the object and the construction being displaced relative to each other.

It is then necessary that the dome is so constructed that in its folded or partly folded condition it is freely accessible on at least one side. The folding and unfolding will then have to be effected from one or more of the other side.

When the object to be housed under the dome occupies a floor area which is small relative to its height, the dome should preferably be of such shape that, in its unfolded condition its floor area is also small relative Vto its height.

In order to meet these conditions, the collapsible dome according to the invention is so constructed that the pivot points are jointly vertically displaceable.

In order to achieve the greatest possible fold-out angle, a further feature of the dome according to the invention is that the pivot points of the ribs on both sides are each located on a member having the shape of a sector of a circle, such members being each pivoted to the raising and lowering lever system.

In order to limit the pivoting angle of said sector-shaped members, one rib in the central zone of the dome is iixedly secured to the sector-shaped members.

The lever system may be moved mechanically, hy-

3,470,559 Patented Oct. 7, 1969 ICC draulically, or pneumatcally, and according to` an optional feature of the invention, it has at least one locking device for locking the lever system in the unfolded position of the dome.

According to another feature of the invention, the locking device is controlled by the sector-shaped members so as to be put into and out of operation without special means or operations being required.

`One embodiment of the invention will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, showing a dome according to the invention with hydraulic or pneumatic operating means.. In said drawings FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a dome according to the invention in its fully folded position;

FIG. 2 shows a lateral view of the dome shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows the lateral view of FIG. 2 with the dome in partly unfolded position;

FIG. 4 shows a further phase as the dome is unfolded;

FIG. 5 shows the dome in entirely unfolded position; and

FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 show, in detail, on an enlarged scale, the locking construction for use in the dome shown in FIGS. 1-5, in the position of the lever system shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, respectively.

Referring to FIGS. l and 2, designated by 1, 2 are floor beams on which the further construction of the dome is supported. Each of the floor beams 1, 2 is provided with a lever system, comprising a first lever .3 which is about halfway connected to a second lever 5 by means of a pin 4, and is on one end connected by a pin `6 to one or more travelling rollers 7, adapted to travel between guides in the floor beams 1,2.

The other end of each of the levers 3 is connected, by means of a pin 8, to a sector-shaped member 9, and each of the levers 5 is pivoted to the floor beam 1, 2 about a pin 10.

Each of the lever systems 3, 5 can be moved relative to the floor beams 1, 2 by means of a cylinder and piston assembly 11, the cylinder being of the single acting type and being operated by a source of hydraulic or pneumatic pressure medium.

Fach of the members 9 can tbe moved relative to the lever 3 by a double acting cylinder and piston assembly, comprising a piston rod 12, 12'. The two ymembers 9 are interconnected by a plurality of bow-shaped ribs 13, the rib 13 in the central zone being ixedly connected to the members 9, and the other ribs being pivoted at 14.

In the folded position of the dome shown in FIG. 2, the ribs 13, 13', on the side remote from the pivot points 14, bear on each other and on the floor.

FIG. 3 shows the dome in a partly erected position, arrived at after the piston rods 11 of the pistons moving in the cylinder 11 have been activated. The pivot point 8 has been vertically displaced relative to the lloor by means of the lever systems 3, 5, and the members 9 have been rotated relative to the position shown in FIG. 2. The rib 13 has been subjected to the same angular displacement as the members 9, as a result of which the subjacent ribs 13 have been spread out.

The angular displacement of the ribs 13 relative to each other is determined by the cloth or like llexible material `secured to the 'outside of the ribs V13 and`^` fully n covering the same.

The cloth extends from the rid 13 located closest to the floor, to a fioor member or like provision 15, to which it is secured.

FIG. 4 shows the dome in a next phase, after the cylinder and piston assemblies 12 have been actuated. The members 9 have now Ibeen rotated relative to the levers 3, as a result of which the cloth between the rib 13 and the floor member 15 have been drawn entirely taut. The ribs located on the other side of the rib 13 remain in the folded position by virtue of a cylinder and piston assembly 16 arranged in the rib 13', which keeps the other ribs together by means of steel wires 21 guidedrover pulleys 17, 18, 19 and 20 and fitted to the outermost rib.

In FIG. 5, the dome is entirely unfolded after the operation of the assembly 16. To achieve this position, the steel wires 21 have been payed out by gravity acting on the other ribs after the retracting of the cylinder and piston assembly 16 until the cloth between the ribs has been drawn taut. The remaining openings between the lowermost rib 13, the member 9, the lever 3, and the fioor beam 1, 2, can be closed with loose flaps, doors or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the unfolding of the dome is effected by successively operating the cylinder and piston assemblies 11, 12, and 16. The folding of the dome is effected in reverse order.

For consideration of safety, the cylinder and piston assemblies 11 will have to lbe locked in their extended position shown in FIGURES 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8. In the other cylinder and piston assemblies, the pressure can be released without any objection, the dome remaining in its unfolded position through gravity. One example of a locking construction is shown in FIG. 6 in the position of the lever system shown in FIG. 2.

Secured to each of the levers 3, so as to be longitudinally movable, is a tie rod 22. Each of the tie rods 22 is on one end provided with a cross-pin 23, and on the other end with an oblong eye 24 which receives a pin 25 carried lby each of the members 9.

Each of the floor "beams 1, 2 is provided with a locking pawl 27, pivoting about a pin 26, and having a bevel 28 and a recess 29.

FIG. 7 shows the locking construction in the position of the lever system shown in FIG. 3. At the end of the stroke of the piston in cylinder 11, the pin 6 has lifted the locking pawl 27 by engagement under and along the bevel 28, Whereafter the cross-pin 23 of the tie rod 22 cornes into the recess 29, and keeps the locking pawl 27 in elevated position, as shown in FIGURE 7.

FIG. 8 shows the locking construction .in the position of the lever systems shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. During the rotation of the member 9, the pin 25 has lowered the rod 22 and the engaged locking pawl, whereafter the locking pawl 27 catches around the pin 6 as shown in FIGURE 8. This locks the pistons in the cylinders 11 against unwanted inward movement, and moreover ensures that the locking pawls are not lifted and the pistons in the cylinders 11 cannot be retracted until after the pistons in the cylinders 12 have been retracted.

It will be understood that the manner of operation of the rod system, as well as the shape of the ribs can be modified without departing from the principle of the invention.

We claim:

1. A Collapsible dome, comprising a framework covered with cloth and the like and including a plurality of twolegged ribs, the ends of said ribs being on both sides pivoted in or adjacent the same point, and wherein the pivot points are jointly vertically displaceable, wherein the pivot points are on both sides each located on a member in the shape of a circle sector, one ri'b in the central zone of the dome being fixedly secured to said umembers, whicl r membe rs are each pivoted toa raising and lowering lever system, each said lever system comprising a first lever pivotally connected at one end to one said sector mem-ber and having its other end slidably connected with an elongated supporting and guiding floor beam, and a cooperating second lever fixedly pivoted at one end to said fioor beam in spaced relation to the pivotal connection of the first lever with said beam and pivoted at its other end to the cooperating first lever intermediatly of the ends thereof, and means for moving the slida'bly connected end of each first lever along the beam to which it is connected.

2. Dome structure as defined in claim 1 including means for moving each sector member about its pivotal connection with the respective first leverto vary its angular relationto Ythe particular first lever. n

3. Dome structure as defined in claim 1 wherein there is also included a means for imparting movement of each sector member about its pivotal connection with thev respective first lever to vary its angular relation to the particular first lever, said last named means comprising a double acting cylinder'and piston means connected at its ends to the respective sector member and the first lever to which it is pivotally connected.

4. Dome structure as defined in claim 2 wherein each first lever slidable connection includes a cross pin, and wherein each oor beam carries a locking pawl disposed to engage with and lock the position of a respective cross pin and the respective lever system first lever when a raised position of the system has been attained.

5. Dome structure as defined in claim 2 wherein each first lever slidable connection includes a cross pin, and

wherein each floor beam carries a locking pawl disposed to engage with and lock the position of a respective cross pin and the respective lever system first lever when a raised position of the' system has been attained, and means for releasing the respective pawl from its locking engagement.

6. Dome structure as defined in claim 2 wherein each lfirst lever slidable connection includes a cross pin, and wherein each fioor -beam carries a locking pawl disposed` to engage with and lock the position of a respective cross pin and the respective lever system first lever when a raised position of the system has been attained, and there also being included means operable `by movement of the respective cooperating sector for releasing the respective pawl from its locking engagement, said last named means comprising a tie rod slidably mounted on the respective first lever and having a cross pin at one end disposed for engagement with the respective locking pawl and an elongated slot and pin connection at its other end with the respective cooperating sector.

7. A collapsible dome according to claim 1 including cylinder and piston means connected to said one rib, wire means connected between said piston and cylinder means and an outermost one of said ribs for controlling movement of said outermost one of said ribs with respect to said one rib.

y8. A collapsible dome, comprising a framework, covered with cloth and the like and including a plurality of twolegged ribs, the ends of said ribsbeing on both sides pivoted in or adjacent the same point, and wherein the pivot points are jointly vertically displaceable, wherein the pivot points of the ribs are on both sides each located on a member in the shape of a circle sector, one rib in the central zone of the dome being fixedly secured to said members, which members are each pivoted to a raising and lowering lever system, each said lever system comprising a first lever pivotally connected at one end to one said sector member and having its other end slidably connected with an elongated supporting and guiding floor beam, and a cooperating second lever fixedly pivoted'at one end to said fioor beam in spaced relation to the pivotal connection of the first lever with said beam 'and pivoted at its other end to the cooperating first lever in- 5 6 termedately of the ends thereof, and means for moving FOREIGN PATENTS the `slidably connected end of each -rst lever along the 870 081 12/1941 France. beam to which it is connected, said last named means 752911 7 /1956 Great Britain. comprising a single acting cylinder and piston means 8621011 3/1961 Gregt Britain.

connected at its ends to the respective oor beam and 37 486 1 63 the end of the first lever slidably connected therewith. 5 9 9/ 9 Great Bntam' References Cited ALFRED C. PERHAM, Prlmary Examlner UNITED STATES PATENTS Us. C1. X.R.

3,107,722 10/1963 Larsson 16e-18s 10 3,325,958 6/1967 Moore 52- 63x 52@ 80 0*'132 

